25 Tips for New Developers: Advice from a (Mostly) Self-Taught Software Engineer

Advice for Professional Development

Get involved in the community

If there's one thing that I wish I had done earlier in my career, its getting involved in the tech community. I started coding in a computer science classroom where I didn't feel like I belonged, but getting involved in the wider industry through blogging, attending meetups, and social media has made me feel so much more included. In addition, it can help with establishing a "brand" and demonstrate your knowledge. Not to mention how much it can help others.
I wrote a lot more extensively on how to get involved with the tech community here.

Teach

The best way to really learn something is to teach it to someone else. You have to know something in-depth to explain it well -- it's much harder than you may think. Plus teaching can help you meet other developers and display your own knowledge! It's a win win!

Make a portfolio that stands out

Your portfolio is key to communicating who you are and what you've done. They are super helpful if you're looking for your first job, so you can show off the projects you've built and what you're interested in. If you're looking for speaking opportunities or to advance in your career, they're great for that -- it's what I use mine for now. Plus, they're a fun creative outlet. Do something fun if you can, it will stand out more. If you're looking to make one, here's more of my advice!

Make friendships in the industry when you're not looking for a job

Getting referred for jobs makes it much easier to get in the door at companies. I have gotten almost all of my jobs through people I know. Online applications when you don't have a reference are usually a lottery -- there are tons of applicants and filtering them is incredibly difficult. It's really important to network and use your connections to find jobs.
Along the same lines, it is much better to make mutual relationships that are not just about a certain position, the person will be more likely to vouch for you, not to mention the other benefits of genuine friendships! One-sided relationships aren’t likely to be long lasting and overly rewarding. Both parties should be engaged and benefit from the relationship.
Go to meetups, go to industry events, interact on social media, and build a network before you're looking for a job so that network will be there to support you once you're ready.
Plus you'll have new friends -- some of my closest ones are from this industry now.